Once and Future King 1979

Curator: Here we have Kit Williams' "Once and Future King," painted in 1979. It’s a wonderfully eccentric piece. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Whimsical, definitely whimsical. I'm drawn to the framing—it's like looking through a storybook window. And is that supposed to be the artist himself perched up that tree having tea? It gives a slightly satirical vibe with those enormous spectacles! Curator: Absolutely, the subject, believed to be a self-portrait of Williams, is delightfully exaggerated, partaking in a tea break amidst a landscape reminiscent of classic Romanticism. The surrounding oak tree and flowering dog roses frame the figure, echoing Arthurian myth and the enchantment of English folklore. Editor: The magpie overhead adds another layer. Throughout cultures, the magpie is a messenger, a trickster. Is Williams hinting at some deeper message concealed within this idyll? What about the other elements, the pair of case-enclosed instruments sitting in the lower left, or even the primus kettle in the bottom right? Curator: Precisely! The instruments imply creative pursuits, music or writing, hinting at Williams' multifaceted talent beyond painting. And the meticulously rendered primus kettle, the delicate cup and saucer, invite us to share this private moment of reverie, almost a beckoning gesture into Williams' playful subconscious. The surrounding woodcut frame itself carries many familiar natural themes such as roses, acorns and Oak leaves. Editor: It’s interesting how the very structure echoes medieval triptychs, yet the style feels like a blend of Pre-Raphaelite romanticism with a healthy dose of humour, almost verging on caricature. There’s definitely an awareness of past visual languages being playfully remixed here. The artist takes his role as orchestrator of signs and symbols in stride; the result is truly special and enigmatic, begging a second look. Curator: Indeed. The image lingers, doesn't it? Williams’ unique blend of the arcane and everyday transforms an ordinary tea break into a tableau of mythic proportions.